Single lever operating controls



C. W. BUDDO ETAL SINGLE LEVER OPERATING CONTROLS April 26, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 31. 1958 r gn. r1. MAYBEE mgnmqa, c. MAYBEE INVEN TOFLS cHA gs w BUDDO WIL Arrowsvs April 1960 c. w. BUDDO ETAL ,9

SINGLE LEVER OPERATING CONTROLS Filed Oct. 31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIQ cnmggs w. BUDDO wan ng) M. MAYBEE HA c. MAYBEE ATro usYs United States Patent 2,933,943 sworn LEVER OPERATING comers Application October 31, 1958, Serial No. 771,025 Claims. (Cl. 74-471) This invention relates to single lever operating controls for two operating leads. i

The invention is particularly adapted for use as a remote control of an outboard motor of a boat. On such motors it is necessary to shift the gearfrom forward to reverse and vice versa and also to control the throttle setting. Various types of remote control have been proposed whereby the motor may be controlled from the forward part of the boat. Normally such remote controls include two operating levers, one lever to control the gear shift and the other lever to control the throttlev opening. The levers are connected to the motor by flexible Bowden cables.

Since outboard motors do not have clutches it is necessary that the throttle setting be substantially at its minimum value when the gears are shifted from forward to reverse or vice versa. With a two lever remote control it is possible to forget to reduce the throttle setting before shifting from one gear to the other and such an operation may damage the motor.

Attempts have been made to overcome this disadvantage of a two lever remote control by using a single lever control which both shifts the gears and controls the throttle. With such control the throttle setting is automatically reduced before gear shifting is effected. However, such single lever controls have not proved popular, except on larger outboard motors, due to their high first cost and considerable complexity. Moreover, previously proposed single operating cables. 9 Y

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a. single lever remote control for two operating leads which is simple to manufacture. 1

It is another object of this invention to provide a. re mote control for two operating leads which is simple to install and simple to operate.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a single lever remote control which may, easily be mass produced and may be sold comparatively cheaply.

It is another object of the invention to provide a remote control for an outboard motor which may be lever controls have required special mounted on either the port or starboar'd side-of the boat whichemploys .the operatwithout special adapters and ing cables normally used for trols.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views andin which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a control according to the invention, partly broken away to show its internal structure, with the operating lever in its neutral position; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure. 1, also partly broken away, showing the positions of the parts of the mechanism after the lever has been moved from its neutral position;

conventional two lever con- Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line III-III of Figure 1, and

p1n- 47 which, whenthe core is in the Figure4 is a horizontal section on the line IY-IV of Figure 1.,

Referring now to the drawings, housing, indicated generally at 10, plate 11, an intermediate plate 12 The outer plate 11 is provided with a hollow boss 14 in which is journalled a main shaft 15. The shaft 15 has an operating lever 16 secured thereto by means of a collar 17. The collar is drilled and tapped to receive a grub screw 18, the end of which engages a flat 19 on the shaft to hold the operating lever in position. At its free end the operating lever is provided with a knob 20.

The plates 11, 12 and 13 are secured together by studs 21 having distance pieces 22 between adjacent plates. The outer ends of the studs 21 carry nuts 23 and the inner ends are secured to a convenient part of the boat indicated generally at 24 in Figure 2; in the example shown in the drawings the control is mounted on the starboard side of the boat. I

Secured to the main shaft 15, within the housing, is a first pinion 25 which meshes with a second pinion 26 mounted for rotation on a shaft 27 and retained on the shaft by a circlip 28. Mounted to rotate with the second pinion is a crank 29 which, at its free end, is pivotally secured to one end of a link 30, the other end of the link being pivotally connected to a slidable bar 31 by a pin 32. The end. of the link 30 which is connected to the bar 31 is slotted as best shown at 33 in-Figure 1. Mounted in the end of the link and projecting into the slot 33 is an adjusting screw 34. The pin 32, the slot 33, and the adjusting screw 34, together form a lost motion device whereby the movement of the crank 29 from the position shown in Figure 1 will not begin to affect the bar 31 until the free play between the pin 32 and the end of the adjusting screw.34 has been taken up.

Referring now to Figure 3, the bar 31 is constrained to slide between guides 35 formed in the intermediate plate 12. A further pair of guides, 36 is provided,one of the pair being formed. on theinner plate 13 and the other guide being formed on the intermediate plate 12. Between the. guides 36 is received a toothed rack 37 which is free to slide longitudinally and meshes with a toothed quadrant 38 mounted upon a shaft 39 forrotation within the housing. The shaft is supported between the plates 12-and 13 and is shouldered at 40 where it is received by the plate 12. A portion 41 of the shaft of reduced diameter projects towards the outer plate 11 and has a diametrically extending pin 42 passing therethrough.' I I The pin 42 engagesin oppositely disposed slots 43 in a core 44 which is slidable within a sleeve 45; the core 44. passes through theouter plate 11 and has at its free end an operating knob 46. The core is slidable axially between first and second positions and is shown' in Figure 3 in its first position. In this position the pin 42 is received 43 so that the The core is provided with aprojectin gfirst position, is sl6t48 in the sleeve 45. The slot is only just wide enough'to take the pin so that when the consisting of an outer 7 pin 1s in'the slot the core and the sleeve rotate together.

slot 48 into a-slot 49 in the outer plate 11 while at the same time the slots 43 inthe core become disengaged from the pin 42 on the quadrant shaft 39.

Referring now in particular to Figures 1 and 2, the first pinion 25 has upstanding from one surfacethereof a pin 50 and also a sector-shaped abutment 51. The pin.50 and the abutment 51 lie in a substantially annular zonewith the ends of the sector-shaped abutment '5l' spaced from the pin 50 as shown. Secured to the sleeve 45 is a the control includes a and an inner plate 13.

quadrant and the core,

receive the pin 50 and, on

into contact with the sector-shaped abutment -51 before the p'in'50 is completely clear of the notch 53. A

The bar 31 and the rack 37'are provided with means for the attachment of the ends'ofthe inner'cables of flexible Bowden cables. The bar 31 has an inner cable 55- secured thereto at 56 and the outer sheath 57 .of the inner cable 55 has one end secured in an internally threaded nipple innercable 59, the cable beingsecuredat 60. The outer sheath" 61 of the inner cable 59 has; one end held by an internally threaded nipple 62. The nipples-58 and 62 are received in apertures in the intermediate and inner plates 12 and 13, the apertures being indicated at 63. Similar apertures are provided at 64 at the other end of the plates for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

The operation of the control is as follows: the control is installed in a boat so that one end of the inner cable 55 is secured to the bar 31 and the other end of the inner cable is secured to the throttle control (not shown) on anoutboard motor. The outer cable-57 has one end secured in the nipple 58and the other end suitably anchored on the outboard motor. One end of the inner cable 59 is secured to the toothed rack37 'as shown and the other end is secured to the gear shift lever (not shown) on the outboard motor. Similarly one end of the outer cable 61' is secured in the nipple ,62 and the other end is suitably secured on the outboard motor.

Theposition in which the control is shown in Figure 1 is its neutral position and during "installation the throttle control on the motoritself is set so that the desired slow running speed is attained with the parts in the position shown in Figure -1.

If it is desiredto proceed in a reverse direction the lever 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figures and-2. The rotation of the lever 16 rotates the first pinio'n 25 thereby moving the pin 50 in a'clockwise direction out of the notch 53 in the cam 52. Consequently the cam 52 is turned andone of the cam surfaces 54comes into contact withthe sector-shaped abutment 51 as shown in "Figure 2. With the core '44 in its first position as shown in Figure 3, the cam, with thesleeve .45, is operatively connected to the quadrant 38 through the slots 43 and the pin 42. It follows that upon rotation of the earn the quadrant will also rotate about its pivotal axis and consequently the'rack 37 will move towards the right as shown in Figure 2. This movement of rack towards the right moves the inner cable '59 and engages the reverse gear on the motor.

Simultaneously with the rotation of the quadrant, the first pinion 25 rotates the second pinion 26 and therefore moves the crank 29. As shown in Figure 1, the crank is in the dead'center position with regard to the bar 31 when th'e'lev'er is in neutral position. The first effect on rotation of the crank 29'is that the free play between the pin 32"and the adjusting pin 34 in the slot 33 of the link 29 is taken up. The amount of free play is adjusted so that the-movement of the cable 59 will have engaged the gear on the motor before'substantial movement of the throttle takes place. Further rotation of the lever to the position shown in Figure 2 advances'the bar 31 and thereby moves the inner "cable 55 to open the throttle on 'the motor. It will be 'seen that once the lever has: been turned to a sufficient'extent that one of thecam surfaces 54 has engaged the sector-shap'ed abutment- 51; furth'er' rotation of the lever will only-advance the-throttle and will not advance 58. Similarly, the rack 37 has secured thereto an the toothed rack so that once a gear has been engaged it cannot bedisengaged while the throttle is open.

If the lever is now rotated in an anti-clockwise direction to the neutral position, the parts will again take up the positions shown in Figure 1. During the anti-clockwise rotation the pin 50 will enter the notch 53, will turn the cam '52 back to the position shown in Figure 1 and will thereby rotate the rack to disengage the gear. It now it is desired to go forwardly, the lever is moved in an anticlockwise direction from the neutral position and a similar sequence of events takes place as that described for going into reverse. The pin 50 moves out of the notch 53 and brings one of the cam surfaces 54 into engagement with the sector-shaped abutment 51; movement of the cam turning the quadrant to move the rack to engage forward gear. Moreover, since the crank 29 is in the dead center position relatively to the bar 31 when the lever is in neutral position, rotation of the second pinion 26 in either" direction from the neutral position will have the same effect, i.e., the free play between the pin 32 and the adjusting pin 34 will first be taken up and then the bar'31'will be moved. As-befo're, the free play is such as to enable the rack to move the gear shift into gear before the throttle is substantially opened.

- Sometimes it is desirable that the motor be run at a higher throttle setting than minimum while still out of gear so that it may be warmed up with the boat standing still. For this purpose means have been provided for disengaging'the gear shift from the throttle. However, these means are so arranged that the gear shift can only be disconnected from, or re-engag'ed with, the throttle when the lever is in neutral position. This precludes accidental engagement or disengagement of the gear when the throttle is wide open which would result in damage to the motor or 'gear box.

The disengageable means provided comprises the axially slidable core 44 which co-acts with the quadrant and the sleeve 45. When the core is in its first position, as shown in Figure '3, there is a driving connection betwen'the quadrant and the cam. However, if the core is moved to its second position, by being moved to the 'left in Figure 3, the pin 42 comes out of the slots 43 and the pin 47 moves out of the-slot 48 into the slot 49 in the outer plate 11. This movement of the core 44 is only possible'when the lever is in its neutral position because the slot 49 in the outer plate 11 is so orientated that the pin 47 can only" pass into the slot when the lever is in the neutralposition. It will be seen that when the core has been withdrawn to its second position there is no driving connection between the cam 52 and the quadrant 38. It follows that, with the core in its second position,*the lever' may be turned in either direction to operate the throttle mechanism but that, during the movement, motion of the cam will not be communicated to the quadrant 38 and therefore the engine will not be placed in gear; In order to be able'to engage gear it is necessary for the operating lever to be brought back into its neutral position after the engine is warmed up thus allowing the core 44 to be moved back to its first position. This is only possible when the'lever is in the neutralposition because the slot 48 in the sleeve 45 is only in alignment with the slot'49 in the outer' plate 11- when the lever is in the neutral position.

The control may be mounted on either side of the boat as desired. When mounted on the starboard side of the boat'it will be connected up as shown in the drawings but if placed on the port side the Bowden cables will have their outer cables anchored in the apertures 64 at the left of Figure 2. Moreover, a further hole 65 is provided in the outer "plate '11 to receive'the 'shaft27 of the second pinion 26 when th'e'control'is to be mounted on'the-port side.' The hole 65 is located-at the other side 'of'the boss 14 from the hole in which-the shaft 27 is shown as being mounted in the drawings. If it is desired to use the control on the 'poitside o'f the boat thenthepinion 27 with its associated shaft is mounted in the hole 65 and the control then operates in a similar manner to that shown and described hereinbefore.

It will be seen that the invention provides a simple and versatile single lever control especially suitable for the remote control of outboard motors. Moreover, the control can be easily fabricated and is very simple to install. Furthermore, the control is economical in that it uses the normal operating cables provided for a conventional two lever control. a

It will be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is a preferred example and various modifications can be carried out without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. A single lever operating control for two operating leads comprising a housing, an operating lever journalled for rotation in the housing to either side of a neutral position, a member mounted within the housing to rotate with the lever, a crank mounted to rotate in response to rotation of the member, a connector bar slidably mounted in the housing, means interconnecting the bar and the crank, the crank being in-dead center position relative to the bar when the lever is in its neutral position, a toothed quadrant mounted for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted in the housing and meshing with the quadrant, first and second abutments on said member, a Geneva cam rotatably mounted in the housing, driving means between the cam and the quadrant, a notch in the cam to receive the first abutment when the leveris in neutral position, cam surfaces on the cam on both sides of the notch to co-act with the second abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the first abutment out of the notch, and means to connect one operating lead to the bar and the other operating lead to the rack.

2. A single lever operating control for two operating leads comprising a housing, an operating lever journalled for rotation in the housing to either side of a neutral position, a member mounted within the housing to rotate with the lever, a crank mounted to rotate in response to rotation of the member, a connector bar slidably mounted in the housing, means interconnecting the bar and the crank, the crank being in dead center position relative to the bar when the lever is in its neutral position, a toothed quadrant mounted for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted in the housing and meshing with the quadrant, first and second abutments on said member, a Geneva cam rotatably mounted in the housing, disconnectable driving means between the cam and the quadrant, a notch in the cam to receive the first abutment when the lever is in neutral position, cam surfaces on the cam on both sides of the notch to co-act with the second abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the first abutment out of the notch, and means to connect one operating lead to the bar and the other operating lead to the rack.

3. A single lever operating control for two operating leads comprising a housing, an operating lever journalled for rotation in the housing to either side of a neutral position, a member mounted within the housing to rotate with the lever, a crank mounted to rotate in response to rotation of the member, a connector bar slidably mounted in the housing, means interconnecting the bar and the crank, the crank being in dead center position relative to the bar when the lever is in its neutral position, a toothed quadrant mounted for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted in the housing and meshing with the quadrant, first and second abutrnents on said member, a Geneva cam rotatably mounted in the housing, driving means between the cam and the quadrant, a notch in the cam to receive the first abutment when the lever is in neu- 6 tral position, cam surfaces on the cam on both sides of the notch to co-act with the second abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the first abutment out of the notch, means to connect one operating lead to the bar and the other operating lead to the rack, and a lost motion device in the means interconnecting the bar and the crank so that as the lever is turned from the neutral position one of the cam surfaces is in contact with the second abutment before substantial movement of the bar takes place. g

i 4. A single lever operating control for two operating leads comprising a housing, an operating lever journalled for rotation in the housing to either side of a neutral position, a member mounted within the housing to rotate with the lever, a crank mounted to rotate in response to rotation of the member, a connector bar slidably mounted in the housing, means interconnecting the bar and the crank, the crank being in dead center position relative to the bar when the lever is in its'neutral position, a toothed quadrant mounted for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted in the housing and meshing with the quadrant, first and second abutments on said member, at Geneva cam rotatably mounted in the housing, disengageable driving means between the cam and the quadrant, a notch in the cam to receive the first abutment when the lever is in neutral position, cam surfaces on the cam on both sides of the notch to co-act with the second abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the first abutment out of the notch, means to connect one operating lead to thebar and the other operating lead to the rack, and a lost motion device in the means interconnecting the bar and the crank so that as the lever is turned from the neutral position i one of the cam surfaces is in contact with the second abutment before substantial movement of the bar takes place.

5. A single lever operating control for two operating leads comprising a housing, an operating lever journalled for rotation in the housing to either side of a neutral position, a member mounted within the housing to rotate with the lever, a crank mounted to rotate in response to rotation of the member, a connector bar slidably mounted in the housing, means interconnecting the bar and the crank, the crank being in dead center position relative to the bar when the lever is in its neutral position, a toothed quadrant mounted for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted in the housing and meshing withthe quadrant, first and second abutments on said member, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housing, a Geneva cam secured to the sleeve, a core axially movable within the sleeve, disengageable interengaging means on the core and the sleeve, further disengageable interengaging means on the core and the quadrant, both said interengaging means being disengageable only when the lever is in neutral position, a notch in the cam to receive the first abutment when the lever is in neutral position, cam surfaces on the cam on bothsides of the notch to co-act with the second abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the first abutment out of the notch, and means to connect one operating lead to the the lever, a crank mounted to rotate in response to rotation of the member, a connector bar slidably mounted in the housing, means interconnecting the bar and the crank,

the crank being indead center position relative-to the bar when the lever is in its neutral position, a toothed quadrant mounted for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted in the housing and meshing with the quadrant, first and second abutment-s on said member, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housing, a Geneva cam secured to the sleeve, a core axially movable within the sleeve between first and second positions, a pin extending radially from the core, in the first position the pin being received in a slot in the cam and securing thecam and the core together for rotation, and in the second position, the pin being received in a slot in the housing to hold the core against rotation, disengageable interengaging means between the core and the quadrant, said means being engaged when the core is in the first position and being disengaged when the core is in the second position, the pin and the slot in the housing only being in alignment when the lever is in the neutral position so that the core may only assume its second position when the lever is in the neutral position, a notch in the cam to receive the first abutment when the lever is in neutral position, cam surfaces on the cam on both sides of the notch to co-act with the second abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the first abutment out of the notch, and means to connect one operating lead to the bar and the other operating lead to the rack.

7. A single lever operating control for two operating leads comprising a housing, a main shaft journalled for rotation in the housing, an operating lever secured to the shaft to rotate therewith to either side of a neutral position, the lever projecting from the housing, a pinion secured to the shaft withinthe housing, a second pinion journalled for rotation in the housing and meshing with the first pinion, a crank movable with the second pinion, a link pivotably secured at one end to the crank, a bar slidably mounted in the housing and pivotally secured to the other end of the link, the crank being in dead center position relative to the bar when the lever is in its neutral position, a toothed quadrant journalled for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted in the housing and meshing with the quadrant, the rack being in a central position when the lever is in its neutral position, a pin on the first pinion, a sector shaped abutment on the first pinion, the pin and the abutment lying in an annular zone concentric with the pinion and the ends of the abutment being spaced from the pin, a Geneva cam rotatably mounted in the housing, disengageable .driving means interconnecting the cam and the quadrant for simultaneous rotation, said means being capable of being disengaged only when the lever is in neutral position, a notch in the cam to receive the pin when the lever is in neutral position, and cam surfaces on the cam on either side of the notch arranged to co-act with the sector shaped abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has been moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the pin out of the notch.

8. A single lever operating control for two operating leads comprising a housing, a main shaft journalled for rotation in the housing, an operating lever secured to the shaft to rotate therewith to either side of a neutral position, the lever projecting from the housing, a pinion secured to the shaft within the housing, a second pinion journalled for rotation in the housing and meshing with the first pinion, a crank movable with the second pinion, a link pivotably secured at one end to the-crank,.a bar slidably mounted in the housing and pivotally secured tothe other end of the link, the crank being in dead center position relative to the barwhen the leveris in its neutral position, a toothed quadrant journalled for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted in ing in a central position when the the housing and meshing with the-quadrant, therack belever is in its neutral position, a pin on the first pinion, a sector shaped abutment on the first pinion, the pin and the abutment lying in an annular zone concentric with the pinion and the ends of the abutment being spaced from the pin, a sleeve rotatably mounted in the housing, a Geneva cam secured to the sleeve, a core axially movable within the sleeve, disengageable interengaging means on the core and the sleeve, further disengageable interengaging means on the core and the quadrant, both said interengaging means being disengageable only when the lever is in neutral position, a notch in the cam arranged to mate with the pin, cam surfaces on the cam on either side of the notch arranged to co-act with the sector shaped abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has been moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the pin out of the notch, and a lost motion device on the link connecting the bar and the crank so that as the lever is turned from its neutral position one of the cam surfaces is in contact with the sector shaped abutment before substantial movement of the bar takes place.

9. A single lever operating control for two operating leads comprising a housing, an operating lever journalled for rotation in the housing to .either side of a neutral position, a member mounted within the housing to rotate with the lever, a crank mounted to rotate in response to rotation of the member, two pairs of parallel guides in the housing, a connector bar slidably mounted between the guides of one of said pairs of guides, means interconnecting the bar and the crank, the crank being in dead center position relative to the bar when the lever is in its neutral position, a toothed quadrant mounted for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted between the guidesof the other of said pair of guides and meshing with the quadrant, first and second abutments on said member, a Geneva cam rotatably mounted in the housing, driving means between the cam and the quadrant, a notch in the cam to receive the first abutment when the lever is in neutral position, cam surfaces on the cam on both sides of the notch to co-act with the second abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the first abutment out of the notch, and means to connect one operating lead to the bar and the other operating lead to the rack.

10. A single lever operating control for two operating leads comprising a housing, having a pair of opposite sides, an operating lever journalled for rotation in the housing to either side of a neutral position, a member mounted within the housing to rotate with the lever, two spaced apart mounts in the housing, one of said mounts being adjacent to one of said sides and the other of said mounts being adjacent to the other of said sides, a crank on one of said mounts and arranged to rotate-in response to rotation of the member, '-two pairs of parallel guides in the housing extending between said opposite sides, a connector bar slidably mounted between the guides of one of said pairs of guides, means interconnecting the bar and the crank, the crank being in dead center position relative to the bar when the lever is in its neutral position, a toothed quadrant mounted for rotation in the housing, a toothed rack slidably mounted between the guides of the other of said pair of guides and meshing with the quadrant, first and second abutments on said member, a Geneva cam rotatably mounted in the housing, driving means between the cam and the quadrant, a notch in the cam to receive the first abutment when the lever is in neutral position, cam surfaces on the cam on both sides of the notch to co-act with the second abutment to keep the cam in a turned position when the lever has moved from the neutral position to turn the cam by moving the first abutment out of the notch, and means to connect one operating lead to the bar and the other operating lead to the rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,687,419 Ainsa Oct. 9, 1928 10 Berry Jan. 5, 1937 Hewitt Sept. 11, 1945 Morse Mar. 11, 1952 Lear Ian. 6, 1953 Manzolillo Aug. 21, 1956 Erxleben Sept. 3, 1957 

